WILD SPOTTER: CITIZEN SCIENTISTS REPORTING

INVASIVES TO AID FOREST SERVICE RESTORATION PROGRAMS

Rebekah D. Wallace, Charles T. Bargeron, Rachel (Beyke) Carroll, Michael

Ielmini, and Pat Conzemius

10/25/2018

“Mapping, quantifying, and reporting new infestations early helps

our biologists and other land managers to implement better

strategies for prevention, control, and eradication”

Allen Rowley, Director of the Forest Management, Rangeland Management, and

Vegetation Ecology Units for the Forest Service in Washington, D.C.

Wild Spotter Press Release

“The public accesses land more than we can possibly do and so if we can leverage that access and that use to help us track these invasive species we will be able to respond quicker and hopefully get a handle on them faster.”

Chelsea Monks, Field Biologist at Siuslaw National Forest

Siuslaw National Forest To Take Part In Nationwide Invasive Species Project by Alec Cowan. August 13, 2018 http://www.klcc.org/post/siuslaw-national-forest-take-part-nationwide-invasive-species-project

Overview• Goal: to expand the capacity for National Forests and Grassland to Survey, Inventory, and

Map of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in high value areas using the support of citizen volunteers and other partners.

• Objective: using a piloted effort over 5 years, quantify the location and extent of all targeted populations of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species currently invading on each Research Natural Areas, Wilderness Areas, and along all Wild & Scenic River corridors within the National Forest System.

• Scope: Wilderness Areas, Wild & Scenic Rivers within prioritized piloted National Forests nationwide.

• Approach: utilize volunteer “citizen scientists” to work in a coordinated manner; capitalize on existing skillsets of private individuals, volunteer organizations, and partners to detect, measure and map invasive species in a safe and efficient manner.

Wild Spotter Major Components

1. National Website

2. EDDMapS Platform

3. Marketing and Promotion

4. Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination

Wild Spotter Components

1) National Website

• www.wildspotter.org

• Project Overview

• Identification Materials

• Survey, Inventory, and Mapping

Protocols

• Customized Site Information

• Access and Contact Information

• Maps

• Invasive Species List

Monongahela National Forest

This Forest offers a wide range of recreational activities due to eight Wilderness Areas, a National

Scenic Byway, and the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.

www.wildspotter.org

www.wildspotter.org

Opportunities to Join Wild Spotter

Wild Spotter – The Steps

Join - Website

• Registration via website

• Can register through the Wild

Spotter App (iOS and Android)

• Can login with existing

EDDMapS account

• After registering/logging into,

you will be prompted to

select the Place you will be

visiting and reporting in

Pathways

• Locations where invasive species are

likely to find a foothold

• Provides info on how the invasive species get in these locations

• Mechanisms of spread by species

(hooks/”Velcro” on seeds, fruit

attractive to animals, etc.)

• Vectors (Unclean equipment, moved

firewood, deliberate planting/release,

etc.)

• Provides tips on how to prevent

becoming a vector

Species ID

• Name

• Reporting Stats

• Images of Characteristics

• Text

• Listed by Forests/Places

Forests and More

• Currently launched at 12 pilot

forests across the US

• Places have descriptions with

information about specific

locations within each site

• More Forests, Wild & Scenic

Rivers, Wilderness Areas, and

other types of locations will be

added

Pilot National Forests

Lincoln

Santa Fe

Bridger-Teton

Nez Perce/Clearwater

Wallowa-Whitman

Siuslaw

Payette

Ozark-St. Francis

Daniel Boone

Chequamegon-Nicolet

MonongahelaShawnee

• Morgan Falls St. Peter’s Dome Trail

• Anvil National Recreation Trail

• Mountain Fire Lookout Station

• Natural History Auto Tour

• Lakewood Auto Tour

• Franklin Lake Campground

• Lake Three Campground

• Wilderness Areas

• Blackjack Springs

• Headwaters

• Porcupine Lake

• Rainbow Lake

• Whisker Lake

• Wild & Scenic Rivers

• St. Croix National Scenic

River

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

1) Priority Areas 3) Pathways and Vectors2) Invasive Species List

Place Info

• Map of the Property

boundary

• Wild Place Name

• Tag Line

• Contribution Stats

• Photo and Description

• Link to the Place’s website

Place Info

• Areas within the Place

(Links to their websites)

• List of species of concern

selected by the Place

• Species are clickable and link

to the Species Info

Partners

• Lists the organizations, programs,

groups, etc. that have joined Wild

Spotter as partners

• Partners can provide a description of

their organization, their goals, their

history, and other information,

including their role in natural resource

and/or invasive species management

Prevention Tips

• How invasive species move

spread

• Specific tips based on activity or

location

• Trails

• Fishing/boating

• Camping

• Pets and other animals

• Cleaning the animal and related

equipment before and after

recreating (e.g., trailers, feed,

bedding, toys, etc.)

Support

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Wild Spotter roles

• Wild Spotter

• Partner

• Common questions about

invasive species

• Videos

• More information and

resources to be added as

materials are developed

Front Page Cont.

• Volunteer spotlights

• News and Events

• Recent Reports

• Useful Links

• EDDMapS

Wild Spotter Direct Support Contact Information

mappinginvasives@gmail.com

Wild Spotter Components

2) EDDMapS Platform

• Uniquely designed for project

• Same branding and design as

National Website

• Supporting information for use by

volunteers in the field

• Smartphone Apps for Data Collection

(iPhone and Android devices)

EDDMapS (www.eddmaps.org)

• Electronic Early Detection Tool

• Aggregate database for individual reports, through websites and mobile apps,

as well as existing bulk data from agencies and other databases

• Use the collected data to help programs Identify Existing Range, Gaps, and

Leading Edge in Maps

• Provide tools for Early Detection, Verification, Alerts, Visualizations, Monitoring

and Management, and Data Sharing and Collaboration

• Tools for land managers, invasive species program coordinators, etc.

Wild Spotter Mobile Apps

Works on iPhone, iPad, and

Android devices

Download and install the

FREE Wild Spotter App

to map invasive species in

your favorite Wild Place

Swipe

through

introductory

slides to

learn how to

use the app!

Pick the

Wild Place you

are in or visiting*

*Selecting a Wild

Place will download

the species list and

ID info for that Place

View maps of

your selected

Wild Place

Explore and

Identify Any

Invasive Species

of Concern

Learn about the Wild

Place you are

exploring

Report your invasive

species sightings

(what, where, how

much)

Click on the

dropdown box

for more

options

Wild Spotter App

Homepage

Wild Place Name

Tap link to learn

more about the

Wild Place

Select the

dropdown box to

go to a different

page

Learn About the Wild Place

• Maps

• Descriptions

• Access Information

• Warnings

• Contacts

• Etc.

Change your

Home Wild Place

when you travel

Tap Queue to upload

your invasive species

sightings

Select to sign

in or create a

Wild Spotter

account

Dropdown Box Options

In-App settings

for photo saving

and version

number

Purpose, goals,

partners, etc.

about Wild

Spotter

Create an account

or sign in with an existing

EDDMapS Account

Sign in or Create an

Account

Tap to learn more

about each

species

Scroll

through

invasive

species by

category

Tap REPORT if

you’ve spotted

this species!

View pictures,

descriptions,

and identifying

characteristics

Species Identification

How large is the

infestation?

(currently being

modified)

Tap the camera to

add photos to the

report; important for

verification!

Save your Report

to the Upload

Queue

The invasive species

you’ve selected to

Report

Reporting

Section Current Date/Time

(editable)

Additional comments

relevant to the

observation

How long did you

spend surveying?

(Great for volunteer

programs!)

Location - Based on

device’s GPS, editable

by tapping on the Map

Icon

Data Collection and Mapping

• Mobile apps are the primary way to collect data, although other

manual methods are possible.

• We are working to provide guidance and support for taking

environmental samples (e.g., eDNA).

• NRM is helping to move data from the Wild Spotter system into

the USFS FACTS (TESP-IS) database.

After Submission - Verification

• Validation and quality control through EDDMapS platform. Pre-

loading USFS data into the system to reduce duplicating existing

records.

• Verifiers have been recruited at each of the pilot forests

• Directly ties the verifiers to the recreationalists reporting in their Wild Places

• Verifiers will also be able to implement appropriate management

procedures for positive identifications

• Results from reports can help direct education efforts

• Incorrect identifications – More ID tools for those species

• Locations of high reports – Interpretive signage or materials

After the data is verified…

Oregon Dunes Restoration Project (Scoping Letter)

• Invasives are prominently mentioned in the needs:

• “Promote the development of a sustainable vegetative

structure, composition, and pattern to allow for natural

processes to function and provide resilience against invasive

species and uncharacteristic succession in the long term”

• Half of the proposed actions address methods to

treat invasive species and the goal that invasive

removal would achieve; greater sand movement

and removal of specific invasive species and invasive

species in general

How can Wild Spotters contribute to the ODRP?

Hiking Trails!Horse Trails, OHV Trails, Camping,

and more!

How can Wild Spotters contribute to the ODRP?• Many different recreationalists using different areas of the land

• “Autopilot” not as much of a concern with Wild Spotters as employees who drive the trails often

• Areas may see more recreationalists than employees, especially along invasive species pathways

• Promoting Wild Spotter can increase invasive species awareness and encourage better prevention practices (e.g., cleaning equipment, not entering infested areas, etc.)

• More data is needed to help the scientists analyze the impact of invasives, provide justification for control efforts, and evaluate effect of treatments over time.

Wild Spotter Components3) Marketing and Promotion

• Media (video, social, print,

radio, web, television, etc.)

• Presentations

(conferences/tradeshow)

• Networking and emailing list

• Targeted Marketing to diverse

groups

Marketing and Promotion

Promotional Materials

Facebook: Build Community (2568 followers)

From Press Release to Media

From Press Release to Media

From Press Release to Media

Presentations and Tradeshows

Photos by Dane Huinker, Wildlife Forever

Webinars and Distance Presentations

Emailing Lists

Print Advertising: Targeted Publications

Wild Spotter – Target Audience• Materials and messages are being crafted to

be specific to target audiences based on age,

hobbies/interests, media consumed, etc.

• Messages targeted at those whose hobbies

include boating (e.g., motor-powered boating,

waterskiing, sailboats, etc.), fishing, swimming,

etc. would cover:

• aquatic species identification

• boat/equipment cleaning tips

• pathways and hotspots

• Aimed at being cross-posted on social media of

organizations focused on similar issues (e.g.,

Clean, Drain, Dry; Play, Clean, Go; etc.)

Wild Spotter Components4) Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination

• Citizen Science Program Connection

• USFS Volunteer Program Connection

• Partnerships and Recruitment at all levels (local to

national)

• Working with Corps Network and other Conservation

Corps Partners

• Recognition and Support (Training, technology, awards,

etc.)

Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination• Volunteer incentives are highly recommended (e.g., Pilot Forest starter-kits).

Certificates, pins, stickers, etc. to help thank volunteers for their support.

• Forests promoting Wild Spotter and help connect volunteers locally.

• Providing a seasonal Wild Spotter coordinator at each of the 12 Pilot Forests to

help recruit and manage citizen scientists.

• Full-time coordinator hired at UGA to work directly with each National Forest

(Wild Spotter project coordinator Rachel (Beyke) Carroll).

• Mentoring program established to help support and expand program on each

National Forest.

Primary Collaborative Partners

• Technology (website,

mobile apps,

database, etc.)

• Training Materials

• Project Coordination

• Recruiting Forests and Forest

personnel participation

• Verifying records

• Promotion and Volunteer

Recruitment

• Marketing Campaign

• Partnerships

Regionally Based Partners

Topically Based Partners

Become A Partner

• Partnerships are crucial for designing

and implementing our resources as Wild

Spotter works to manage invasive

species through on-the-ground,

community-based projects.

• Any organization can apply to become

a partner

• Partners also directly solicited from

programs that have similar goals;

natural resource and invasive species management

Future Plans

• Expanding reporting outside USDA Forest Service lands

• Adding real-time species maps to the Wild Spotter website and to the apps

• Potentially adding overlays (sourced from the forests) on the maps to show where trails, look-outs, etc. are, as these are often hot-spots or pathways for

invasive species

• Proximity alerts – “You are near a previously reported invasive species! Is it still

there? Report in Wild Spotter!”

Questions?

“We are happy to be part of the Wild Spotter program and to offer the public a way to

enjoy their national forest while helping us gather information on the locations of invasive

species. Invasive plants, pathogens, and animals can threaten recreational activities,

productivity, and ecosystem health. This tool will help the forest to implement better

strategies for prevention, control, and eradication.”

Angela Elam, (interim) Forest Supervisor Siuslaw National Forest

New Citizen Science Effort to Map Invasive Species on the Siuslaw National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/siuslaw/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD591506